Incontinence

Four months after Robotic surgery , I'm finally or suddenly getting over it.  I gushed and gushed forever,  starting the minute the catheter was removed.  Never dripped or leaked.  Thought it would never end.  Used diapers and pads and tried external catheters and bags.  Hate being soaked in urine.  Sensitive skin.  My point  Wash many times a day and  use  Balmex.  Its a baby diaper rash cream.  Not messey and works really good to keep skin healthy.  Zinc oxide.  The length of time it takes to get over it depends on many things.  We're all different.  I'm 69 and had the "going often" problem a long time before finding I had cancer.  Hopefully it will be over before long.  Best to all.

One - I am still dripping after 3 months. It is not getting better or worse. I have been somewhat negligent of doing kegels and seem to keep forgetting. I have just grown accustomed to the situation. I do relly wish I could get rid of this last pad though! I definatly leak when passing gas and coughing. Sometime it just leaks for no reason at all. Hope it to get better soon.

Dennis

Dennis,

It does take some time to get dry. It took me about 3 months to achieve 98+% dry. I believe the constant daily kegeling and walking got me to that point. There were many days that I felt I was not going to improve, but finally after 6 months I'm totally DRY. Some of us take longer, but you have to keep doing those exercises.

Good Luck,

Glen

Who did your Robotic Surgery?  What hospital?  What has your doctor said about your results from his procedure?  Did he save the bladder sphincter? 

I hope you get this to a managable level soon.  That must really be depressing.  Keep the spirits up.  I suspect that things will be fine with a little more time and patience, and this forum should help you with support and ideas too.

Our positive thoughts are part of your support team too.

Steve B.

If you have an experienced doctor, Robotic is the answer! He should have done at least 250. (I don't know how he gets those 250?) The robot is much more precise with A LOT LESS BLEEDING!

I had mine on Aug 11, 2006 (about one week ago) at St Lukes in Milwaukee, WI.
http://www.aurorahealthcare.org/services/cancer/whatwetreat/prostate-cancer.asp
http://www.aurorahealthcare.org/doctors/display.asp?id=8329

I'm feeling great! Only had catheter in for 7 days. Incontinence is minimal already. I did do "some" Kegel exercises prior to surgery for about a month (not as much as I should have.)

Good luck to you all and anyone who reads this in the future.

1mikec

Post Edited (1mikec) : 8/20/2006 5:31:10 PM (GMT-6)

The key numbers of procedures seperating low from high volume hospitals re: the robotic, is at least 100 per year. It is generally said the first 50 a surgeon does are practice and after that it just keeps getting better. One hopes anyway!

YES (yelling) to asking questions, specifically about skill, results, and "how many?" regardless of which procedure anyone chooses.

We found a robotics surgeon one hour away from our home, but called his office and no one could say "for sure" how many daVincis he had done. Was it more than 50? "Yes, I think so." At least 100? "Maybe."

Then, the only quote we could find from him on-line at his web site was "this is a really 'cool' machine." That pretty much ended our quest. (As Swim said, this guy sounded like he would be playing games in there.)

We searched further out - found a doc five hours away who put all the info on-line including a pdf booklet on the procedure, his techniques and training history, and what to do/expect before-and-after. It became our Bible. Had done more than 300 procedures (plus 200 laps). He did a superior (we think) job - have had a few dribbles only and already seeing great response with Cialis (although not allowed to work on that, yet).

I was 98% dry as soon as the catheter was removed. However I'm sure my age, 40, had something to do with that. I did practice kegels several times a day for three months before the surgery. The only leakage I had was during coughs, sneezes, or lifting heavy objects. Now 2 months later even that has improved.

For Incontinence:
I'm taking Detrol LA
It's a 24 hour drug for bladder control (really only lasts 22 or 23).

It's been 2 months since my robotic laproscopic surgery at St Lukes in Milwaukee.
I first leaked just a wee bit (no pun intended) about 22 hours after Detrol LA.
Used "Very Light" Serenity Slender Pads. (They're cheap.)
I'm almost leaking nothing now. Maybe I'm just lucky

Mike C
PS: I'm a little afraid of what might happen if/when I go off the drug?

So I'm 48, and the cancer was diagnosed in July (2 of twleve, PSA = 5.2, Gleeson = 3+3 on both).  Quite honestly, I just have had no time to worry about it, as we have way too much going on in our lives.

N. bear,

If the blood is a concern you need to call your urologist tomorrow morning. Don't feel like you are bothering him/her they are there to help you. It's likely to be nothing be serious, but why worry needlessly?

Glen

They said to expect the blood in the urine, but even though they have done several hundred of these, they have not had it done themselves - hence, I'd like to figure out how "normal" this really is, and how long it should continue.

Northern Bear,

What type of procedure did you have?
Was it robotic laproscopic?

Mike C

RObotic

Hey Northern Bear,

With robotic I also had some blood for a few days.
I'd check with your urologist if it doesn't clear up soon.

How's the incontenence going?
I'm surprised you had that much "gushing"!
Not to make you scared, but I had no "gushing".
Don't get me wrong, I leaked a LOT in the begining.
Wore full diapers for a week. Then Serenity Slender Pads (Very lights) for another 9 weeks. (30 pads for about $6.00)

Are you taking Detrol LA? If not have your doc prescribe it. It's for bladder control.
My doc put me on it right away. It's a 24 hour pill (but I leaked after 22 hours in the begining).
Almost no leaking now after 10 weeks.

By the way, I'm 65.

Mike C

Hey Mike,

It’s been two weeks since robotic surgery. On Monday morning, my surgeon told me to stop my kegel exercises. As a result, the blood appears to have cleared up as of Tuesday afternoon. No blood today (Wednesday).

I’ve got the Detrol LA, but have never taken it. I was told not to use it within 24 hours of having the catheter removed. I’ve never seen the need to take it subsequently.

I’ve been wearing diapers with pads since having the catheter removed. My bladder leaks more than gushes – though when I stand up, I will gush into the diaper pad. I guess that my control will take a little longer since I am not supposed to practice kegels for about a week. Not really concerned about long term continence, as I’m 48. The blood was disconcerting as the last thing I wanted was to get the catheter re-installed. That is a life experience I’d rather avoid.

Sounds like you have things under control.

I think you'll have good effects when you start the Detrol LA.

Keep smiling with a positive attitude. We're all pulling for you.,

Mike C

I just recently found this forum, so thought I would respond. Wish I had found it sooner. I had the DaVinci surgery in January, 2005. Catheter out in about 8 days. Lot's of leakage, no blood in urine. Got out of diapers in about 4 weeks. Actually kept wearing the Depends diaper with a pad just to be sure for a couple of weeks. Went back to work in six weeks with just a pad. Still wear a small Poise pad just to be sure. I find that if I drink alcohol at a party for example, there is a good chance I will leak.

I found that walking is really a great factor in getting everything back under control. I was out walking within 7 days of being out of surgery. I slowly built up my walks to a couple of miles per day. Now I try to get out at least 4 days a week and walk.

I wasn't a big fan of the Kegel exercises. Maybe I should go back and try to start that again.

---

Axe - 59
Diagnosed - October, 2004 - PSA 3.3 up from 2.4
Gleason 3+3 = 6
T2A
DaVinci Surgery - January, 2006
UVA Medical Center
All PSA's at 0.00 since

Hi Axeman,

I as well as most if not all the guys on this sight did a fairly rigorous Kegel routine before and after surgery. I too had the DaVinci procedure (02/23/06 at age 60). Futhermore I'm convinced that the walking & Kegel exercising got me to 99% dry in 3-4 months. Today its almost like the surgery never happened. It's not a bad idea to ask your urologist about doing a Kegel routine.

Glen

Hi Axeman, I am 59 3+3=6 psa 3.3 up from 2.4 Just had my cathater removed today 10/23/06 Surgery 10/12/06. I am gushing and leaking today. I did stop and start urine but man there is a lot of urine. I can see how it could get depressing! Wearing diapers and running to the bathroom alot. Did kegels a little bit should have done more. I am doing them now! Any advice? Thanks Shepla